The Homefront

SPENCER MICHELS:

With a quarter of a million American troops in the Middle East taking casualties capturing prisoners and pushing into Baghdad the war in Iraq has evoked memories and emotions among American veterans.

KEN KUBUYASHI, Vietnam War Veteran:

Let's win the war this time. Vietnam we didn't get to win. We sort of faded away. So let's win this war.

PAT DRISCOLL, Vietnam War Veteran:

Why is it we have singled out this one brutal dictator that we put in power, helped put in power versus the other ones?

SPENCER MICHELS:

The Sacramento area was until recently home to several military bases, all now decommissioned. Consequently there are thousand of retired and former military living in the area. And political posters say the veterans make up 40 to 50 percent of the male electorate in California and usually reluctant to criticize the military. At a Sacramento rally designed to support American troops one of many around the country, veterans were among the demonstrators.

SPOKESMAN:

We want to be able to work as professionals.

SPENCER MICHELS:

One of those who endorses military action in Iraq is a retired Sacramento police Lieutenant John Cain who now teaches police officers how it fight terrorism.

JOHN KANE, Vietnam War Veteran:

I want you have to have some kind of methodology you have a trained cadre of people.

SPENCER MICHELS:

In 1968 and 1969, Kane fought with the 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam and award two purple hearts. He was a 19 year old 2nd lieutenant at the time who joined up five days after high school graduation.. He was supportive of that war and of this war.

JOHN KANE:

I am absolutely in awe of the president shouldering this responsible and going after Saddam Hussein. This is the same thing as a police officer going after a criminal. And who are the only nation, who's the only people who are going to shoulder that law enforcement burden and you know Lyndon Johnson's famous Texas Ranger to the world and go after a guy like this? I am so proud of this country for doing this. It's amazing, really is.

SPENCER MICHELS:

Kane says he respects but disagrees with veterans who oppose the war. And there were plenty of those at a Sacramento anti-war rally on the eve of the American push into Baghdad. Veterans of the Korean War from 1950 to '53 were represented at the rally by 70-year-old Harold Nash.

HAROLD NASH:

I support the troops in there now. They're over there. I want them home. I support them. But I don't support the reason for them to be over there — two different things.

SPENCER MICHELS:

Also at the anti-war rally was 79-year-old vet Harold Gladstone who work in the floor covering business in Michigan before moving to Sacramento. In World War II Gladstone served as a gunner aboard a b 25 and awarded a purple heart after surviving a plane accident. Once back home in business he was a Chamber of Commerce Republican not anymore.

SPENCER MICHELS:

A lot of people say Saddam Hussein is an aggressor and compare him to Stalin or Hitler.

HAROLD GLADSTONE, World War II Veteran:

I can't see it that way. When I was growing up we saw not only what he did to the Jews which is kind of what Saddam did to the curds but also invade Poland Austria, tried to invade Russia,. France. It was altogether different. He was armed to conquer the world. I don't see how Saddam can be a threat to the United States.

SPENCER MICHELS:

Today Gladstone says he shows his patriotism as a volunteer teaching leading to homeless children and young adults in a program sponsored by the Sisters of Social Service. And he questions the government's priorities.

HAROLD GLADSTONE:

Unfortunately, I feel that he we in America have lost some of our humanity or our beliefs in humanity and we're not taking care of our own people. We're going to destroy Iraq and rebuild it spending these billions and billions and they're cutting the budget for helping the people in need right here at home.

SPENCER MICHELS:

Many anti-war veterans say they were especially disturbed by congressional cuts to the budget for veterans. Pat Driscoll is a navy Vietnam vet who heads veterans for peace.

PAT DRISCOLL:

The day after congress passed a resolution supporting the troops they passed a budget which cut benefits for veterans by I believe $15 billon the next five years. Now how is that supporting the troops?

SPENCER MICHELS:

But most veterans remain steadfast in support of the Iraq war. Stephanie Brown who served as an air force lab technician in the Gulf War in 1991 supports American action more than a decade later.

STEPHANIE BROWN:

Part of me wishes I was there maybe with them helping them out and then a part of me is glad I'm here. I don't think people really realize that, how much freedom we do have and trying to help other countries get to the same type of freedom we have here.

SPENCER MICHELS:

At the Sacramento VA Hospital where brown works many others agreed with her.

STUART BUCKALOO:

I think that if you have a hornet in your house a nest and you leave it alone it will eventually take over the house. As an American I believe that we love our country. We honor our country. And I would die for my country even as old as I am now.

SPENCER MICHELS:

While most America's 26 million veterans are not on the street demonstrating groups for and against the war have vowed to keep their causes before the public.